Electrical duck decoy



June 8, 1948. w. H. JONES 2,443,940.

ELECTRICAL DUCK DECOY Filed June 19, 1944 Patented June 8, 1948 a NITED STAT rest urn-es The present invention relates to devices used by sportsmen as lures or decoys, and particularly to the aquatic type of devices known as decoy ducks.

Accordingly the primary Object of my invention is to devise a unique construction of this character in which novel means is provided for causing the decoy to simulate the movements of a live duck, and the operation of which is main tained under the control of the sportsman from his concealed location in the blind. In this connection it is also an object of the invention to provide remote control means which serve-not only as a means of control of the movements of the decoy, but also as a connecting means or leash for anchoring the decoy at the desired location or distance from the blind.

For the carrying out of these purposes of my invention, I have devised a construction which comprises electrical devices mounted within the decoy figure and operable at will, by emcient control means, from a location at the blind,- for effecting movements of the decoy which are simulative of those of a live duck.

With the foregoing, as well as other minor objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated one form of construction which I have devised for embodying the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a View in vertical elevation, partly in section, illustrating a decoy duck device equipped with the improved features embodying the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views, representing sections taken on the lines 22 and 3--3, respectively, of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit which is involved in the illustrated type of construction.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, my improved decoy structure is illustrated as comprising a Figure 5 constructed along lines patterned after the figure of a duck and of any suitable buoyant material, and either of hollow construction or adapted to provide an interior chamber for accommodating the electrical operating parts which will now be described.

A pair of paddle elements 6 are carried by the outer ends of a rod or wire 8, the middle point 3 Claims.

2 'of which is secured to the lower end of a vertical operating shaft [0. The paddle blades 6 are formed with-roll portions l2 adapted for pivotal mounting of the same on the end portions of said rod 8, and the latter is bent down at its ends in order to provide stops l4 so as to allow swinging movement of the blades 6 in only one direction, as indicated in Figure 3.

The shaft H] is journaled in a bearing sleeve '56, the upper end of which is fitted with an adjustable nut I! for engagement with-theupper face of a disk l8 of suitable insulationmaterial, which may be mounted on a set of smallblock elements 28 supported by a bottom plate 19; the edges of which bottom plate may be attached to the body of the duck figure 5 by means of screws 2!, as illustrated in Figure l. The sleeve i6 is firmly clamped by means of a second nut 22 on its lower end which is adapted to be screwed up against the bottom face of said plate 53;; and this connection, as well as the connections made by means of the screws 2| are designed to be made sufilciently watertight for the purpose of the invention.

The upper end of the operating shaft NJ supports a cross bar 24 extending diametrically across a solenoid ring member 25, to which it is attached by screws 26. The ring 25 is made up with a short section 25' of suitable nonmagnetic material such as brass, and is adapted to be oscillated freely through a pair of electric induction coils 23 and 28 located at opposite sides of said cross bar 24 and supported by the disk I 8 to which they are attached by means of straps 29 and screw 30. The lower end of the shaft [0 is shown as resting upon a set screw 21 carried by a suitable bracket 29 attached by screws to the plate I 9, said screw 21 thus serving to provide an adjustable step bearing for the shaft ID and to assure free and unobstructed oscillating movement of the solenoid ring member 25 within said induction coils 28. r

The cross bar 211 also carries a spring switch finger 32 adapted to make alternate contact with a pair of contacts 33 and 33 mounted on said disk l8, said contacts being in opposite branches of an electric circuit 35, 35', which includes the relay coils 36 and 35 and armature switch 31, and the circuit connections including a lead 31 to said armature switch and also a conductor 38 of appropriate length for serving as a leash or anchoring means and also connecting with a suitable battery 43 and remote control switch 12,

As will be found clearly illustrated in the circuit diagram of Figure 4, the circuit arrangement and connections are f a conventional type adapted to produce alternate actuation of the coils 28 and 28' as the relay armature 31 makes alternate engagement with the contacts 44 and 44 corresponding to the alternate branches of the relay circuit in which said coils 28 and 28' are included; and as the circuit is thus closed through said induction coils the solenoid ring 25 is caused to execute an oscillating motion for correspondingly actuating the shaft and paddle elements, whereby corresponding lifelike movements are imparted to the decoy.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a practical and eficient type of decoy or lure is provided for carrying out the object of my invention. The device is of a very simple and inexpensive character, and when properly constructed the operations required by the electrical connections are performed smoothly and practically noiselessly, and hence in harmony with the purpose or design as regards providing as truly a lifelike type of construction as possible, both as to appearance and as to its movements. -These movements are maintained entirely under the control of the operator from his location in the blind, which is one primary purpose of my invention; and it will be noted that the type of battery required is merely the common and wellknown dry-cell form of battery used in flashlights and the like.

While I have shown and described what I have found to represent an entirely satisfactory and serviceable type of construction for the embodiment of my improvements, I Wish to be understood as reserving the right to make such changes or modifications as may come within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A decoy duck comprising a buoyant figure provided with a paddle structure, a solenoid device carried by said figure and adapted to impart oscillatory movements to said paddle structure, and an electric circuit including electric control connections for intermittently activating said solenoid device and also remote control means for controlling said circuit.

2. A decoy duck comprising a buoyant figure provided with a paddle structure, a solenoid device carried by said figure and including oppositely acting induction coils adapted to impart oscillatory movement to said paddle structure,

and an electric circuit including relay connections arranged to intermittently activate said coils and provided with remote control means for controlling said circuit.

3. A decoy duck comprising a buoyant figure provided with a vertical shaft carrying paddle elements, a solenoid ring connected with the upper end of said shaft and provided with oppositely acting induction coils, an electric circuit includingrelay connections arranged to intermittentlyactivate said coils and thereby impart oscillatory movement to said ring and shaft, and remote control means for controlling said circuit.

1 WILLIAM H. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

